A/N: Next chapter ahoy~! The timeline might be a bit messed up, but that's excusable, since I have not read the books since I was 12 and I'm 18. Also, AU. :3

Ch 6: On The Way

Crepsley sighed in an annoyed fashion as the others looked threateningly at the thick forest around them.

"Gavner, get out here, you are scaring the children..."

The extremely scarred man walked out of the woods with a big grin on his face, before speaking in his rough voice. "Damn, I thought I was doing good." As he drew closer to the group he looked suddenly alarmed by the amount of people in it. He recognized the band, and the blue-haired man and his 'family', as well as the little people of the group.

He did not recognize the green-skinned boy or his toys though, and the very presence of the other non-vampires en route to the vampire capital was what triggered this alarm.

Gavner's face hardened and he turned to look at Crepsley. He gestured to the others in the group and asked "What are they doing here?"

Crepsley looked up at his friend. "Erik and Curtis are vampires now if that gets me in any less trouble with you." Gavner's expression read astounded, though not any pleasing variation of it.

"No, if anything that's worse!"

"They were dying and if I did nothing they would be dead right now." Gavner seemed to roll over on that subject-in reality he boxed it up and stuck it in the back of his mind to bring up later.

"That doesn't change the fact you have the immortals, the little people and that avocado with you when-I hope for your sake-they aren't vampires!"

"No, they are not. But I was requested to bring them with."

"And you couldn't say no?!"

"I am afraid my hands are tied when it comes to Mr. Tiny."

"Tiny ordered you to take them?!" Now he was shouting with slight fear in his voice.

"Yes, now calm down, we can talk about this later." He paused for a second to bring out a bottle of blood. "Take a drink, it comes from the immortal ones."

Gavner eyed the bottle with mild suspicion before reaching out, taking it in his hand and drinking it down. His eyes widened at the taste, it was unlike anything he had tasted in blood, but he could feel something different about it. It wasn't poisonous, it was the opposite. His previous exhaustion melted away like butter in the sun, the slight cramps in his legs and arms were nothing but a distant memory, and some cuts he had received while climbing along jagged rocks healed instantly.

"This is amazing..." He gaped at the empty bottle. "The healing properties are at least ten times greater than vampire spit!" Johnny and Devi being the only immortals awake to hear this praise smiled with some pride at having their blood appraised so highly.

The insult that had been thrown in Zim's direction finally sunk in. "Zim is no, no...alligator pear!" He rose quickly to his spider legs. Erik tapped on one of the metallic appendages and gave Zim a look of warning.

Zim got the point and backed down. He had begun to really think highly of Erik as he was so reserved, but could still strike fear into the heart of anyone with a single glance.

The vampires then announced that it was time for them to sleep as the sun was approaching, so Zim and the Immortals could watch over them as they didn't need sleep. The day passed with Squee, Darren, and Zim talking, not many things of interest happened, so when the vampires awoke they were able to continue on their way without much hesitation. Except for a storm that was rolling in as they set out.

They traveled all night though the freezing, howling winds until they spotted through the blinding snowstorm, one of the fortified caves known as a way-station. The vampires were glad, and Crepsley explained their purpose as they entered, before suddenly stopping, along with Gavner, Curtis, and Erik.

"That smell..." Started Curtis, his eyes widening in realization.

"You all stay close behind," Crepsley said evenly as they walked deep into the cave. Within moments they discovered a grim scene. Crepsley walked towards one of the many sprays of blood on the walls.

"It's few days old." he said, brushing his hands against a large patch.

"Who's blood is it?" Darren asked cautiously.

Crepsley peeled a flake off the wall and put it in his mouth, his eyes widening in shock. "Vampire blood?!"

"What?!" This was Nny. "Who would attack a vampire in their own territory?"

At this, Erik gave a pointed glance to Curtis, who had a thoughtful look on his face, digging into his memory for all of the vampire movies he'd seen. "A vampire hunter?" He asked.

"Not impossible, but it's more likely to be the work of a wild beast." Crepsley said in a slightly withdrawn tone. He was looking forward to sleeping in a coffin. "We would rather not want to find out, so let us continue, quickly."

"Agreed, we'll have to proceed with caution." Gavner said as they turned to leave. A few of the group looked back at the destruction before following soon after.

They eventually found a squat cave-an unfortified one-to settle into before the sun rose.

"The light will soon return. We shall camp under here." Crepsley said as they approached it.

After everyone had settled in, Darren noticed that the canteens were running low. "I'm going to go back to the stream we passed to refill the canteens."

"Alone?" Gavner asked, concerned. "What if the hunter or beast catches scent of you? Maybe Erik or Curtis should go with you as well..."

Crepsley sighed, "Darren is not a child, he will be fine." Darren smiled at that, before running off and saying he would return quickly.

He arrived at the stream and held the first one under. "Woah!" He yelped, only slightly surprised, "That's freezing!" the canteen was almost full and he was about to pull it out as he heard a crunch of snow from across the stream. He looked up to see a wolf, the biggest wolf he had ever seen. Suddenly the wolf leaped across the stream and landed on top Darren. He was shocked, and fearful that it was going to attack him, only to be surprised when he felt something wet and slimy leave his face.

He opened his eyes to see the wolf happily licking his face, before turning to drink from the stream. Darren looked across the stream to see three more, two other adults and a pup.

After quickly filling the canteens he returned to the cave with the wolves. The non-vampires remained wary of them as they were not greeted with the same warmth Darren had been given, but Crepsley and Gavner took a shine to them right away, whereas Erik and Curtis were more cautious. That is, until they heard that legends say they descended from them, which sort of just made Curtis more excited to be a vampire then ever.

Darren then revealed that he had named them. Curtis really liked Streak, as evidenced by the fact that he happily scratched that wonderful spot just behind his ear. Erik sort of just submitted to Rudy's affection as he lay face down on the frozen ground while the pup bounced on, off, and around him.

That night the Vampires were kept warm by the wolves as they slept side by side.

A/N: Holy balls this took forever. Sorry about that. At least I'm trying to get it done, much better that just leaving it to rot.